An auto-pilot system was created which could track and control a Syma S107 RC mini infrared helicopter in real-time. The helicopter was tracked using two LEDs attached to it, one situated on the front of the helicopter and one situated on the tail. Image processing and object tracking algorithms were used to track the position of the helicopter. In order to perform real-time tracking, the metho...

AIM Each year approximately two to four helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) crashes occur in Germany. The aim of the present study was to compare crash rates and fatal crash rates in Germany to rates in other countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS A MEDLINE search from 1970 to 2009 was performed using combinations of the keywords "HEMS", "rescue helicopter", "accident", "accident rate", "c...

The detailed system design ofa· smallexperimental autonomous helicopter is described. The system requires no ground-to-helicopter communications and hence all automation hardware is on-board the helicopter. All elements ofthe system are described including the control computer, the flight computer (the helicopter-to-control-computer interface), the sensors and the software. A number of critical...

Autonomous helicopter flight represents a challenging control problem, with complex, noisy, dynamics. In this paper, we describe a successful application of reinforcement learning to autonomous helicopter flight. We first fit a stochastic, nonlinear model of the helicopter dynamics. We then use the model to learn to hover in place, and to fly a number of maneuvers taken from an RC helicopter co...

The purpose of this paper is concerned with the mathematical model development issues, necessary for a better prediction of dynamic responses of articulated rotor helicopters. The methodology is laid out based on mathematical model development for an articulated rotor helicopters, using the theories of aeroelastisity, finite element and the time domain compressible unsteady aerodynamics. The he...

On Thursday 8 January 1998, a Czech Hip helicopter with 21 personnel on board crashed shortly after take off from Bos Krupa, northwest Bosnia. Seventeen casualties (including six with severe injuries) were airlifted from the scene for treatment at the British Hospital Squadron in Sipovo before aeromedical evacuation the next day to Prague, or discharge to their unit. This was the largest mass c...

BACKGROUND Transportation by helicopter may reduce time to hospital admission and improve outcome. We aimed to investigate the effect of transport mode on mortality, disability, and labour market affiliation in patients admitted to the stroke unit. METHODS Prospective, observational study with 5.5 years of follow-up. We included patients admitted to the stroke unit the first three years after...

Following didactic instruction, most aircrew are able to experience some of the disorientating illusions and limitations of the orientational senses in a variety of ground-based devices. In order to reinforce instruction in spatial disorientation (SD) within the environment in which they operate, British Army Air Corps helicopter pilots also receive an airborne demonstration of the limitations ...

BACKGROUND The Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) in Norway is operated day and night, despite challenging geography and weather. In Western Norway, three ambulance helicopters, with a rapid response car as an alternative, cover close to 1 million inhabitants in an area of 45,000 km(2) . Our objective was to assess patterns of emergency medical problems and treatments in HEMS in a geog...